Woman admits running over State Police trooper

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A woman admitted today to running over an off-duty West Virginia State Police trooper during an alleged shoplifting incident in St. Albans earlier this year.

Jennifer Elaine Garretson, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of malicious wounding. She faces two to 10 years in prison when Kanawha Circuit Judge James Stucky sentences her Dec. 9.

In January, Garretson hit Sgt. Aaron Nichols with her car while she was trying to flee the parking lot of Goody's clothing store in St. Albans.

Police say that Nichols, who was not in uniform, followed Garretson to her car after she set off the store's security alarm. Witnesses said that Nichols ordered the woman to stop as she was getting in her car and jumped on the vehicle's trunk as she was backing out.

Garretson began driving erratically and Nichols was thrown from the trunk. He was in intensive care at CAMC General Hospital for several days after the incident.

The trooper, who has been confined to desk duty for several months because of his injuries, attended the hearing Monday.

"I'm glad to have resolution with this case," Nichols said outside the courtroom.

He believes he'll be able to return to full duty as a trooper in December.